[ interview ]
The natural resources , including high solar and wind energy potential in these regions , make them particularly suitable for green hydrogen production and export of hydrogen carriers .
Can you elaborate on the importance of local offtake of hydrogen and its transport in the form of derivatives ?
It is crucial to integrate hydrogen production with local offtake to reduce transportation and cracking / dehydrogenation challenges as well as loss of energy . Processing hydrogen into easily transportable products like DRI , fertiliser , iron fuel , and SAF is more efficient , cheaper , and more practical . For instance , Brazil , along with many other countries in Latin America and Africa , with its abundant iron ore resources and fertiliser needs , should focus on using hydrogen locally for the production of DRI , fertilisers , and SAF , which can also be used locally , rather than exporting hydrogen or ammonia , to produce the higher-value products elsewhere . This approach not only streamlines logistics but also maximises economic benefits for Brazil because by producing DRI , fertilisers or SAF , lots of value is created . Additionally , using hydrogen to produce such derivative products can significantly lower transportation costs and energy loss as well as avoids the complexities involved in handling and shipping hydrogen and converting hydrogen carriers back into hydrogen .
In your view , what are the most effective uses of hydrogen ?
The key to effective hydrogen utilisation is to tailor its use to the specific conditions of each location . This means recognising the unique resources and industrial needs of different regions . For example , in the Baltics , the abundant biogenic carbon makes it suitable for producing SAF or methanol , which require carbon in their production processes .
In the Netherlands , while current conditions on land are not ideal , the future increase in offshore wind capacity will create favourable conditions for green hydrogen production , especially when offshore hydrogen production becomes feasible . However , simply producing hydrogen is not enough ; we need to find practical applications for it , for example in a refinery or to supply it to existing ammonia plants in the Netherlands . However , in existing ammonia plants you can only replace part of the grey / blue hydrogen with green because existing ammonia plants need steam ( for compression and recycles ) and CO 2
( feedstock for urea ), which are by-products from steam methane reforming processes . New ammonia plants , designed with modern engines for compression and recycling , and focused on export or carbonfree fertilisers , can handle up to 100 % green hydrogen but will likely be built in regions with cheaper continuously available renewable energy .
While working at TNO , Mr . Frens gained knowledge about all major electrolyser technologies , including PEM . Image courtesy of TNO
The European Union should focus on new technologies if it wants to stay competitive . Current high renewable energy costs make it unattractive for energy-intensive industries to build new plants in the EU , with the exception of Northern Europe , France , the Iberian Peninsula , and the Balkans . Policymakers need to decide whether to mandate or subsidise the use of
40 Hydrogen Tech World | Issue 16 | June 2024